IN-DEPTH FEATURESA Comprehensive Survey of the Chareidi Community in Eretz
Yisroel — "Its Length and its Breadth"

by Betzalel Kahn, Aryeh Zissman and M. Chevroni

Part I

Chareidi Jewry in Eretz Yisroel has undergone far-reaching
changes in recent years. Changes that in the not-so-distant
future will become very significant from the standpoint of
the chareidi public as a whole in contrast to the general
population. To put it in clear, simple English: the chareidi
public is growing, bli ayin hora, at a rate unknown in
any other segment of the Jewish population in Israel.
Meanwhile the secular population is diminishing, though
slowly. It will take many years before secular Jews become a
minority, but the trendlines are very clear.

In 5708 (1948) there were less than 700,000 people living in
little Eretz Yisroel. The country has grown since then and
now numbers nearly seven million. Of the few hundred thousand
residents at the beginning of the State, the chareidi
population numbered in the tens of thousands. Although this
sector had a large impact on the nation's early development
and the character that took shape through the years, the more
it grew, the more the secular sector grew as well — at
least up until now.

This is not the place to recall the historical injustices
committed by the nation's leaders, who robbed tens of
thousands of Jews of their heritage and religion in the
immigrant transit camps, thereby increasing the demographic
gap between the observant and the nonobservant. A significant
portion of today's traditional and secular public are the
children of those tinokos shenishbu.

This is also the reason the State of Israel opened its gates
to hundreds of thousands of non-Jewish immigrants from the
former Soviet Union fifteen years ago — both to
preserve the demographic balance between the Jews and Arabs
and to keep the chareidi population in check. Not to speak of
the various decrees imposed on the chareidi sector in recent
years.

All this has not and will not help the powers-that-be to
achieve their objective. The Jewish revolution in the State
of Israel, despite the difficulties from without and within,
is merely gathering strength. The number of lomdei
Torah in Eretz Yisroel has not been so high for thousands
of years. Yeshivas and kollelim abound and, in 5765,
one-fourth of all the high-school age students in the country
were enrolled in chareidi educational institutions.

Almost 700,000 Chareidim in Israel

The spokesman's office at the City of Beitar Illit conducted
in-depth research last year on the statistics of Israel's
chareidi population. The study relies on hundreds of
documents, figures, surveys and studies published in recent
years.

One of the official figures released by the Central Bureau of
Statistics indicates out of the State of Israel's 6.5 million
residents 83 percent are Jewish: around 5.4 million. The
other 17 percent are Arab, Christian, etc. However a
significant number of Russian immigrants who are not really
Jewish is included in this figure since they entered
registered as Jews. The working number that is usually used
is about five million Jews.

Determining how many of the five million Jews in the State of
Israel are chareidi or religious is not easy. A year and a
half ago the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) conducted a
comprehensive, in-depth study — whose results were
hidden away after alarmed CBS officials found the chareidi
sector in Israel constituted 13 percent of the population.
But another CBS survey conducted a few months ago among
10,000 respondents age 20 and over, representing a sample of
half of the country's population, produced the following
results: the adult chareidi population numbers 5 percent, the
religious population 8 percent, the traditional religious
population (masorati — meaning that they may go
to shul on Shabbos but also to soccer games on
occasion) is 11 percent, the traditional non-religious
population 24 percent, the secular population 35 percent and
the remaining 17 percent did not respond.

This survey, which is probably a floor result meaning that
the true number is certainly no lower than that, shows that
the adult chareidi population constitutes 5 percent of the
Jewish population or 250,000 — not including the
numerous children, kein yirbu. A survey conducted by
Manof — The Center for Jewish Information —
reveals chareidi families have an average of 6.2 members
(Editor's note: It was not clear in the information if this
is 6.2 children or 6.2 total family members. We are assuming
the latter). Based on a simple calculation, if the chareidi
public has 110,000 households there are a total of 680,000
chareidim. That means the total chareidi population is about
13 percent of the Jewish population, in the State of Israel,
just as the scrapped CBS study found.

According to estimates, the chareidi sector is growing at a
rate of 25 percent every six years. If in 2003 (the time of
that survey) the chareidi population numbered 680,000 that
figure can be expected to rise to 850,000 in 2009 and nearly
1.1 million in 2015, or 17 percent of the Jewish population.
According to population forecasts, since the religious sector
(which is also growing fairly rapidly) will total
approximately 20 percent of the Jewish population the
combined chareidi-religious population will come to 37
percent of the Jewish population in another 10 years.

The Arab sector will then constitute 22 percent of the
population. These three sectors combined will represent over
half of the country's residents.

*

Over the next weeks we will present this comprehensive
survey of the chareidi community of Eretz Yisroel. Our
reporters tried to include every city, community or
settlement that has a chareidi community. Yerushalayim, Bnei
Brak, Modi'in Illit, Beit Shemesh and Beitar get most of the
press coverage, but there are other significant
concentrations literally all over the country, as will become
evident. We have tried to present the communities in English
alphabetical order, but the fact that this material is
largely a translation from Hebrew has raised some technical
problems that may cause some minor discrepancies. We ask our
readers' indulgence, and believe that the results are
nonetheless very impressive. The reaction to seeing the
breadth and variety of the community is almost always an
impressed: Kein ayin hora!

The cornerstone for the city's chareidi community was laid in
5726 (1946) when construction began on Yeshivas Ponovezh-
Grodna. Today 220 bochurim and over 100
avreichim study at the yeshiva and Ashdod has become
the home of the country's third largest chareidi population.
Relatively few of them are immigrants.

The city was laid out according to precise plans. The streets
are wide, greenery is plentiful and the architecture is
attractive. There are no traffic jams or one-way streets.
Landscaping and playgrounds can be found everywhere.

The chareidi community is divided into several different
areas, the largest of which is Eizor Zayin ("Area 7"), which
has dozens of botei knesses, yeshivas,
kollelim, chadorim, girls' schools, etc.
Yeshivas Grodna is in Kiryat Ponovezh, which is located in
Eizor Gimmel, the city's oldest chareidi neighborhood.
Institutions run by Gur, Belz and Pittsburgh are also located
here. In Eizor Chet is a Gur neighborhood housing 700
families in a section called Kiryat Rota. Chareidi residents
also occupy entire streets in Eizor Tet, which is considered
the prestigious part of the city for the chareidi public. All
of the chareidi parts of the city are slowly expanding
outward.

The three dominant Chassidic groups in order of size are Gur
(1,500 families), Belz (500 families) and Vishnitz. Other
Chassidic kehillos include Pittsburgh, Melitz, Tolna,
Nashchiz and Chernobl. The Sephardic bnei Torah
community is also large and impressive. The city's
educational institutions are flourishing.

Ashdod has four large chareidi food markets in addition to
several corner markets. The industrial zone has several
factories under chareidi ownership and the city has an active
chareidi tourism industry, particularly in the summer. Ashdod
also has one of the most kosher beaches in the country.

The community centers offer swimming pools and afternoon
activities for children and evening activities for women.

Ashkelon

Region: South

Population: 110,000

Demographic composition: Secular, religious

Representation: 2 UTJ councilmen, 3 Shas councilmen

Ashkelon does not have a chareidi neighborhood, but there are
approximately one hundred chareidi families—including
numerous baalei teshuvoh and about ten Lev L'Achim
activists—scattered around the city. Attempts to bring
in a large number of chareidim have failed. Enrollment at the
local talmud Torah, Chinuch Atzmai school and numerous
kindergartens is growing from year to year thanks to Lev
L'Achim's annual enrollment drive.

Azur

Region: Central

Population: 9,900

Demographic composition: Secular, chareidi

Representation: 1 Degel HaTorah councilman, 1 Shas
councilman

Located near Holon, Azur has several dozen chareidi families
and boasts two central kollelim as well as several
smaller kollelim. Dozens of avreichim commute
from Bnei Brak every day to stay in a quiet environment.
Degel HaTorah Councilman Rabbi Yonah Moskovitz says the local
avreichim are actively involved in outreach
activities.

There are a number of chareidi kindergartens, but older
students are bused to the surrounding towns.

Be'er Sheva

Region: "Capital of the Negev"

Population: 180,000

Demographic composition: Mixed

Representation: 5 chareidi councilmen

Be'er Sheva has a self-contained chareidi community comprised
predominantly of Sephardim but there are also bnei
Torah of Ashkenazi origin living there. Young chareidi
couples tend to leave Be'er Sheva for outlying towns like
Netivot and Ofakim, which offer housing opportunities more
suitable for first-time buyers. The city is known as Eretz
Yisroel's largest exporter of young chareidim.

The chareidi community was founded by European immigrants in
5709 (1949). At first the Ashkenazi kehilloh remained
totally separate but the divisions faded as the population
grew. The city's one cheder, founded by Satmar, serves
primarily Sephardic families. Chinuch Atzmai started several
talmudei Torah and girls' schools.

Be'er Yaakov

Region: Coastal Plain

Population: 8,700

Demographic composition: Secular, religious,
traditional, chareidi

Representation: 2 councilmen

The carefully preserved rural flavor combined with its
proximity to Rishon Letzion, Ramle and Bnei Brak have made
Be'er Yaakov in high demand in recent years. Attractive
single-family homes have been popping up like mushrooms in
every neighborhood and prices are rising.

The Be'er Yaakov yeshiva was founded over 50 years ago when
the Chazon Ish told HaRav Shlomo Wolbe to start a yeshiva.
The yeshiva is currently headed by HaRav Dovid Yitzchok
Shapira and HaRav Moshe Dovid Lefkowitz, the respective sons
of HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapira and HaRav Michel Yehuda
Lefkowitz.

Be'er Yaakov Seminary, founded by HaRav Moshe Menachem
Yaacobson, has hundreds of students including a special
department for immigrants from Bukhara and Georgia which
boasts 3,000 graduates now building and sustaining Torah
homes. The town also has Talmud Torah Shevet Halevy, several
kollelim and numerous botei knesses. The
majority of kollel families live on Rechov R' Meir
Baal Hanness. Most of the non-chareidi population is
"dati" or "masorti."

Beit She'an

Region: Jordan Valley

Population: 18,000

Demographic composition: Traditional, religious and
chareidi

Representation: 2 councilmen

With 250-300 chareidi families scattered around the city,
Beit She'an has chareidi schools for boys and girls. The city
has always had a predominantly traditional population. Since
its arrival in 5748 (1988) Degel HaTorah has had a noticeable
impact on the city thanks to the efforts of former councilman
Rabbi Yosef Abu, who now works through Yeshivat Ahavat Shalom
to promote Torah life in the city.

Chareidi Beit Shemesh got its start decades ago through the
efforts of HaRav Reuven Elbaz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Or
Hachaim. Hundreds of families did teshuvoh through his
efforts.

The city's first chareidi neighborhood was built and today it
is home to 1,100 families. Another 3,300 families, two-thirds
chareidi, live in Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef, and 1,500 live in
Ramat Beit Shemesh Beit. Over 2,300 housing units designated
for chareidi buyers are slated for construction over the next
two years.

Chareidim constitute 40 percent of the city's total
population, and 55 percent of all students are enrolled in
chareidi schools. According to predictions a chareidi
candidate will win the next mayoral elections, if the
community unites behind one candidate.

Commerce is highly developed in the chareidi neighborhoods
and there is a large range of gemachim. The chareidi
sector combines Litvaks, Yerushalmim, Sephardim, Chassidim
and large communities of immigrants from the US, England and
other countries.

Beitar Illit's story begins about 2,000 years ago during the
Second Temple Period. According to maseches Gittin,
"Beitar had 400 botei knesses and each one of them
had 400 melamdim and every melamed had 400
students." And maseches Brochos recounts how Chazal
added the fourth brochoh onto Bircas Hamozone
when the Romans permitted the Jews to bury the victims of
the Beitar Massacre.

Beitar remained desolate for two millennia until building
began 15 years ago—the first of various construction
projects to solve the housing crisis in the chareidi sector.
The town is nestled in the Judean Mountains just a 12-minute
drive from Jerusalem.

Today almost 30,000 residents live on the city's two
ridgelines, enjoying a pristine view, mountain air and the
distinctive atmosphere of a Torah community. With 1,800
annual births, Beitar has the highest percentage of child
residents in the country at 62 percent. Every year 80 new
kindergarten classes are opened.

The city boasts 130 botei knesses, 60 kollelim
for the thousands of avreichim studying in the city,
28 talmudei Torah, 16 girls' schools and seminaries,
125 kindergartens and a total student enrollment of
10,000.

The city offers a wealth of infrastructures: a community
center, a children's library, a Torah library, a large indoor-
play facility, a pedagogical center, a large events hall, a
yeshiva high school for Russian-speaking immigrants, a full
range of clinics, various supermarkets, shops of all kinds, a
Bank Pagi branch, a Bituach Leumi office, a post office, a
beis din, a central tzedokoh fund, 11
mikvo'os and 630 gemachim.

The city has always placed special emphasis on maintaining
its clean, pristine appearance, and has won awards for its
cleanliness.

With 5,000 families living there now, the city has begun a
project to build another 3,500 housing units on a third
ridgeline. Beitar is slated to eventually house a total of
100,000 residents.

Bnei Brak was founded 80 years ago by a group of Polish
Chassidim headed by Rav Yitzchok Gershtenkoren, who later
served as mayor. The "City of Torah and Chassidus" boasts
hundreds of yeshivas and kollelim including Yeshivas
Ponovezh, admorim, talmudei Torah, schools,
kindergartens, etc. For decades the city has been home to
many of the leading gedolei Torah of the
generation.

The city is densely populated, but never has one been heard
to say, "Tzar li hamokom." There is plenty of room for
all of the lomdei Torah as well as the five industrial
zones providing the city parnossoh.

Gathering figures on the city—the number of
gemachim, for instance—is no easy task.
Overflowing with Torah and chessed the city offers
everything and the light of Torah shines on other locations
near and far.

Chatzor Galilit

Region: Galilee

Population: 9,500

Demographic composition: Mixed

Representation: 2 UTJ councilmen, 1 Shas

In Chatzor Galilit about 190 chareidi families live in
Hakiryah Hachassidit, founded by HaRav Osher Neuhaus and R'
Eliyohu Levy, a contractor from Jerusalem. HaRav Neuhaus,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Sifsei Tzaddik with its 120
talmidim, makes Hakiryah his home. Another 50 families
live in the rest of the town.

Most of Hakiryah's residents are Gur Chassidim. The
avreichim among them are especially active in the
shiurim given throughout the town, which has 22
botei knesses. The town's general population is
considered traditional and the chareidi residents are on good
terms with the head of the city council. With the exception
of the local McDonald's restaurant, the town closes for
Shabbos. The road to the Kiryah remains open on Shabbos, but
nobody drives on it out of respect for the chareidi
residents.

The Kiryah operates educational facilities for every age,
including a 170-student seminary that draws girls from the
entire area. Approximately 50 avreichim study in the
Kiryah's two kollelim. Another three kollelim
are located in other parts of the town.

Chazon Yechezkel

A community consisting primarily of Slonim Chassidim. A nice
kehilloh living in peace with the Sephardic
kehilloh there. The yeshiva has 120
talmidim.

Dimona

The chareidi community in Dimona has faded. The remaining
chareidi residents are scattered in different parts of the
town, making communal life difficult to organize. Some 300
students are enrolled in the local Beis Yaakov school and
yeshiva ketanoh.

Eilat

Region: South

Population: 50,000

Demographic composition: Secular, traditional,
religious

Representation: None

Is there a chareidi kehilloh in Eilat? Yes, but . .
.

There is no cheder in Eilat but there is a talmud
Torah with 500 students. A talmud Torah this size
needs teachers, so a kollel is being started. With
just a few dozen chareidi families there is no centralized
housing area for them, but there are several glatt kosher
restaurants and stores.

Elad

Region: Central

Population: 30,000

Demographic composition: Chareidi, religious

Representation: 11 chareidi councilmen, Council Head
Rabbi Tzvi Cohen

Except for a few hundred religious (dati) families all
of Elad is chareidi and the population is expected to reach
40,000 by the end of 2005 and eventually 50,000. The town is
located near the Trans-Israel Highway south of Rosh Ha'ayin
and east of Petach Tikva.

Elad boasts 65 kindergartens, dozens of talmudei
Torah, girls' schools and kollelim and a handful
of yeshivas. The Ministry of Housing and Construction has
built 19 permanent botei knesses, a large gym and
events hall, a youth club, a library, a women's learning
center and a community center. Dozens of temporary botei
knesses also dot the town.

For the past five consecutive years Elad has been awarded
five stars by the Council for a Beautiful Israel and in 2004
won the Beauty Banner.

During a recent visit Interior Minister Ophir Pines pledged
to get Elad recognized as an official city. Local officials
are also asking for additional lands for expansion
projects.

Gamzu

Region: Ben Shemen

Population: 700

Demographic composition: Religious and chareidi

Moshav Gamzu is an agricultural association set up by Agudas
Yisroel in 5710 (1950). The 71-farm moshav doubled its
population in recent years by absorbing new families and
second-generation families. The moshav is located on the edge
of the Ben Shemen Forest at the intersections of Highways 1,
6 and 443.

Gamzu has a small chareidi contingent. The moshav maintains
botei knesses, a mikveh, a clinic,
kindergartens and more.

Ganei Tikva

Region: Central

Population: 12,500

Demographic composition: Secular, chareidi

Representation: 1 Degel HaTorah councilman, 1 Shas

Located between Kiryat Ono and Petach Tikva, Ganei Tikva was
founded in 5709 (1949) as a town for new immigrants. Twenty
years later the Admor of Sassov started Kiryat Yismach Moshe,
a chareidi neighborhood that now has over a hundred chareidi
families.

The town has a yeshiva and the majority of its
avreichim study in the local kollel. Each of
them delivers a shiur in a different location to
strengthen Torah life throughout the town. The
kehilloh is headed by HaRav Menachem Aryeh
Schlesinger, author of Ayil Meshulash.

Ganei Tikva has a talmud Torah with 150 students and a
Bais Yaakov school with 200 students, including students from
the surrounding communities. Some Ganei Tikva children are
enrolled in Bnei Brak schools.

Ganei Tikva has 20 botei knesses. Kiryat Yismach Moshe
residents feel a special sense of community often lacking in
large, crowded cities. "Over the years we have succeeded in
creating a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere with all of the
town's residents," says Rabbi Gilad Beniel, Degel HaTorah's
representative in the local council. "Everyone lives in
harmony and we are on very good terms with the council head,
Avishai Levine."

Givat Ze'ev

Region: North Jerusalem

Population: 10,000

Demographic composition: Secular, religious and
chareidi

Located northwest of Jerusalem's Ramot neighborhood Givat
Ze'ev was founded in 5741 (1981). Most of the population is
comprised of young secular couples, but there is also a small
core of religious residents, as well as 40 chareidi families
living in Kiryat HaRan, which HaRav Tzvi Weissfish started 14
years ago based on instructions from HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.
The avreichim learn at Kollel HaRan during the day and
engage in outreach activities in the evening. These
activities led to the founding of a talmud Torah and a
Beis Yaakov school, and convinced 40 local non-chareidi
families to send their sons to a chareidi yeshiva
ketanoh.

The Admor of Karlin and 70 of his Chassidim also make
Givat Ze'ev their home.